Gallery: Lunar New Year kicks off around the world

STR, AFP/Getty Images02.07.2013

This picture taken on February 7, 2013 shows people buying lunar new year decorations with the word for luck, in Chinese "Fu" in a market in Zouping, east China's Shandong province. The lunar new year, or spring festival, falls on February 10.

STR
/ AFP/Getty Images

A worshipper burns incense while offering prayers at the Yonghegong lama temple in Beijing on February 8, 2013. China is preparing to welcome the lunar new year, or spring festival, which falls on Febraury 10.STR
/ AFP/Getty Images

This picture taken on February 6, 2013 shows an actress performing with a snake to celebrate the coming lunar new year of China in Hetian, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The lunar new year, or spring festival, falls on February 10.STR
/ AFP/Getty Images

This picture taken on February 6, 2013 shows an actress performing with a snake to celebrate the coming lunar new year of China in Hetian, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The lunar new year, or spring festival, falls on February 10.STR
/ AFP/Getty Images

Activists for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with their bodies painted like snakeskin pose for a photo during a protest near China town in Manila on February 8, 2013, ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake. The activists want tourists and shoppers to know that snakes killed for their skins are often decapitated, beaten to death or even skinned alive and therefore should be left in the jungle.TED ALJIBE
/ AFP/Getty Images

A woman walks through a sidewalk market selling goods for Chinese Lunar New Year in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta on February 8, 2013 as the Muslim majority country's minority Chinese-Indonesians prepares to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. The "Year of the Snake" falls across the region on February 10, 2013.ROMEO GACAD
/ AFP/Getty Images

A diver dressed as a mermaid performs next to a Chinese Lunar New Year of the water snake greeting inside an aquarium at Manila ocean park on February 8, 2013. The show is part of the park's celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on February 10.TED ALJIBE
/ AFP/Getty Images

A performer plays to the crowd during a dragon dance to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake in China town in Manila on February 8, 2013. The Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake will be celebrated on February 10.TED ALJIBE
/ AFP/Getty Images

A performer is reflected in the glass window of a car during a dragon dance to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake in China town in Manila on February 8, 2013. The Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake will be celebrated on February 10.TED ALJIBE
/ AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOTS Visitors looks at a display celebrating the Lunar New Year in Shanghai on February 8, 2013. Preparations continue in China for the Lunar New Year which will celebrate the Year of the Snake on February 10.Peter PARKS
/ AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOTS Performers take part in a dragon dance to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake in China town in Manila on February 8, 2013. The Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake will be celebrated on February 10.TED ALJIBE
/ AFP/Getty Images

In this photo taken Wednesday Jan. 16, 2013, women work at a textile factory in Jiujiang city in central China's Jiangxi province. China’s trade growth surged in January but much of the increase was driven by the traditional Lunar New Year holiday. Export growth accelerated to 25 percent from the previous month's 14.1 percent as companies rushed to fill orders before shutting down for a holiday break of up to two weeks.STR
/ AP Photo

A Chinese actor dressed as Qing Dynasty emperor, center, sits on a sedan chair during a rehearsal of an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year at Ditan Park in Beijing Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Chinese will celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 this year which marks the Year of Snake.Andy Wong
/ AP Photo

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2013 file photo, an assistant shop clerk works near a newly unveiled gold snake on display for sale ahead of the upcoming Chinese lunar new year, the year of the Snake, at a jewelry shop in Hong Kong. The 380 gram-gold snake is for sale at HK$200,000 (US$25,800). Chinese New Year remains the most important festival in the region, a weeklong round of family reunions, temple visits, and gastronomic excess.Kin Cheung
/ AP Photo

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, ahead of the Chinese lunar new year of the Snake, following the Chinese zodiac, a devotee cautiously hangs a genetically modified, auspicious, white snake around her neck the Temple of White Snakes in Taoyuan county, in north western Taiwan. Director of the temple Lo Chin-shih said the new year of the snake would be a time of steady progress, in contrast to the more turbulent nature of the outgoing year of the dragon. The Chinese new year fall on Feb. 10.Wally Santana
/ AP Photo

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, ahead of the Chinese lunar new year of the Snake, following the Chinese zodiac, a devotee handles a genetically modified, auspicious, white snake on the altar at the Temple of White Snakes in Taoyuan county, in north western Taiwan. Director of the temple Lo Chin-shih said the new year of the snake would be a time of steady progress, in contrast to the more turbulent nature of the outgoing year of the dragon. The Chinese new year fall on Feb. 10.Wally Santana
/ AP Photo

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, ahead of the Chinese lunar new year of the Snake, following the Chinese zodiac, an elderly devotee handles genetically modified, auspicious, white snakes at the Temple of White Snakes in Taoyuan county, in north western Taiwan. Director of the temple Lo Chin-shih said the new year of the snake would be a time of steady progress, in contrast to the more turbulent nature of the outgoing year of the dragon. The Chinese new year fall on Feb. 10.Wally Santana
/ AP Photo

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, Director of the Temple of White Snakes Lo Chin-shih holds a genetically modified, auspicious, white snake as he talks about its significance in the upcoming Chinese lunar new year of the snake according to the lunar zodiac calendar in Taoyuan county, in north western Taiwan. Lo said the new year of the snake would be a time of steady progress, in contrast to the more turbulent nature of the outgoing year of the dragon. The Chinese new year fall on Feb. 10.Wally Santana
/ AP Photo

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, ahead of the Chinese lunar new year of the Snake, following the Chinese zodiac, a stuffed snake sits the altar at the Temple of White Snakes in Taoyuan county, in north western Taiwan. Director of the temple Lo Chin-shih said the new year of the snake would be a time of steady progress, in contrast to the more turbulent nature of the outgoing year of the dragon. The Chinese new year fall on Feb. 10.Wally Santana
/ AP Photo